When you have young children, it’s important to find ways to help them expend some energy. Ball pits are a great way to do just that! They provide a sensory experience that is perfect for young children and can be a great option for kids to have some physical activity (1). Plus, they’re a lot of fun!
A ball pit is a great way to keep your child entertained. There are several different types of ball pits available, including ones that can be conveniently stored in smaller spaces or come with extra features like slides. You and your child will appreciate the many hours of amusement in either case.
Check out our carefully curated list of the top ball pits on the market, along with some essential things to keep in mind when selecting one for your child’s entertainment needs.
Our Top Picks
- Best Ball Pit For Baby: Bright Starts 5-in-1 Ball Pit
- Best Ball Pit For Toddlers: MEOWBABY Foam Ball Pit
- Best Ball Pit For Big Kids: LOJETON Space Ship Ball Pit
- Best Ball Pit & Gym: Infantino 4-in-1 Sloth Jumbo Baby Activity Gym & Ball Pit
- Best Ball Pit With Tunnels: Hide N Side Kids Ball Pit
- Best Budget Ball Pit: EocuSun Kids Ball Pit
- Best Ball Pit With Slide: Eezy Peezy Active Play 3 in 1 Jungle Gym PlaySet
- Best Foam Ball Pit: TRENDBOX Memory Foam Ball Pit
- Best Bouncer Inflatable Ball Pit: Inflatable Bounce House
- Best Portable Ball Pit: Melissa & Doug Kids Turtle Ball Pit
In This Article
HappyBabyHub’s Best Ball Pits For Kids, Toddlers, And Babies Picks
Bright Starts 5-in-1 Ball Pit – Best Ball Pit For Baby
- You can hang little toys and baby books on it so the baby can play and reach for things
- Easy to assemble
- Lovely colors baby will love
- Super sound effects and music
- The musical elephant is a bit heavy
From ball pits to tummy time, this baby gym is the ultimate fun spot. It’s jam-packed with a kaleidoscope of colors, twinkling lights, mesmerizing sounds, and a whopping 40 balls included in the package. What’s more? You can easily transform this baby gym into several modes to keep your baby entertained for hours. Take off the toy canopy to enjoy some sitting playtime, put up the walls to create a ball pit, or put them down to have a giant playmat.
The electric elephant toy is the cherry on top of this fabulous baby gym, playing 20+ minutes of uplifting music and lighting up to stimulate your little one’s senses. Plus, the mesh canopy comes with window openings for passing balls back and forth or adding extra ones to the mix.
Not only that, but this set also includes seven portable toys that your baby can enjoy on the go! And with the rainbow carrying bag, you can keep the balls protected when not in use.
MEOWBABY Foam Ball Pit – Best Ball Pit For Toddlers
- The ball pit is sturdy yet pliable
- Durability is great because it’s soft enough to hold them in and soft enough for them to climb right in
- Very soft
- Balls are crush-proof
- A bit expensive
These ball pits are made of non-toxic materials, making them completely safe for your toddlers to play in. But wait, there’s more! These soft pools have a wide range of uses, including sensory integration therapy, playing ball games while bathing, and storing toys within.
Cleaning them is a breeze since they are made of materials that don’t stick to dirt, making them a perfect addition to your child’s playroom. Plus, you’ll receive 200 plastic balls to create an immersive play experience for your little ones.
The fabric used in this product is certified by OKEO-Tex 100, indicating that it has been verified to be free from any harmful substances that may pose a risk to human health (2).
LOJETON Space Ship Ball Pit – Best Ball Pit For Big Kids
- It’s straightforward in making the rods straight
- Easy to assemble and play
- Guaranteed hours of fun
- Big
- Like any other play tent, you will never be able to fold it completely down into the bag ever again once opened
Your little ones will have a blast playing for hours in the ball pit, complete with a basketball hoop for added excitement. Plus, the rocket ship tent is sure to fuel their imaginations and take their playtime to new heights!
What’s great about this play set is that the ball pit and rocket ship tent can be used separately, giving your kids even more options for playtime fun. And when playtime is over, simply fold up the ball pit and tent and store them in the provided carrying bag for easy storage.
But don’t worry about the play set getting dirty – it’s easy to clean with just a damp cloth and some mild soap. The sturdy steel wire and soft polyester fabric used in construction ensure that this playhouse will last for hours of playtime fun.
Infantino 4-in-1 Sloth Jumbo Baby Activity Gym & Ball Pit – Best Ball Pit & Gym
- All of the parts allow for exploration as the baby grows and are interactive
- Multiple loops on the canopy for dangling toys at multiple levels
- Doesn’t look horrible
- Everything including the mat is padded and securely attached and there are no choking hazards on the toys
- Sensory overload is possible
Designed to grow with your child from their earliest days to their active toddler years, this spacious play area features a tummy time mat, bolster cushion, overhead mirror, and interchangeable toys, as well as a fun-filled ball pit.
With easy connections to turn the toys on and off, you can easily move them to other areas of the gym to keep your little one engaged and challenged. Plus, when playtime is over, the adorable storage sloth makes it a breeze to clean up and organize the included 40 colorful balls.
Hide N Side Kids Ball Pit – Best Ball Pit With Tunnels
- Easy to fold, assemble, & store
- Some of the pieces fold up easily
- Kids would have to hide in tunnels
- Can be pieced together in different configurations
- Needs a lot of space
This amazing ball pit playhouse obstacle course playset is an explosion of colors and fun for your kids! With countless possibilities for maze combinations, your children will never get bored. In just a few seconds, the whole play jungle gym pops up and is ready to go!
The tunnels are secured with easy latches, so no need to worry about complicated setups. Plus, the lightweight carry bag makes it effortless to store the teepee, cube, and ball house play cave.
This playpen is made of the best 190T soft polyester fabric and sturdy steel wire, ensuring that your children have the safest, longest-lasting, and most enjoyable playground experience possible for hours of playtime.
EocuSun Kids Ball Pit – Best Budget Ball Pit
- Very deep
- Spacious
- Easy to fold and compact
- Doesn’t take up much space
- The material is decent quality and kinda flimsy
Setting up this budget ball pit is a breeze, as it opens up in just a matter of seconds! Plus, it comes with a convenient zippered storage case that makes it easy to take with you wherever you go.
You can rest assured that your child will be safe and happy while playing in the ball pit, as it is constructed with soft, waterproof polyester materials and a sturdy memory steel holder. And with its tough, easy-to-clean fabric, it’s sure to provide your child with a long-lasting source of joy and excitement!
Eezy Peezy Active Play 3 in 1 Jungle Gym PlaySet – Best Ball Pit With Slide
- Very entertaining
- Sturdy and reliable for toddlers
- It doesn’t take up too much space
- It can be used by multiple children at the same time
- You will need to buy more balls for the pit
The Eezy Peezy Activity Playset is an absolute blast for toddlers! With a slide, colorful ball pit, climbing frame, and toss target, children can engage in energetic indoor play for hours on end. This compact play area can accommodate two children, making it a perfect fit for your home.
The pit is constructed with durable interlocking tubes and connections, featuring double self-locking springs for extra safety and sturdiness. Your little ones will be so entertained by all the activities that they might just tire themselves out!
TRENDBOX Memory Foam Ball Pit – Best Foam Ball Pit
- Very sturdy
- Easy to climb in or out
- Spacious
- Can withstand toddlers rolling around
- You will need to purchase additional balls
Thick foam sides and base offer extra support to keep your little one from toppling over and getting hurt. It’s like having a personal safety net for your child. Plus, the memory foam has been reinforced for added protection, so you can rest easy knowing your baby is secure.
The square shape of this ball pit is also a great feature. It allows you to tuck it away in a corner, freeing up more space in your home. And, with the durable memory foam construction, you won’t have to worry about it losing its shape over time. This ball pit is the perfect way to provide your baby with a safe and fun play area.
Inflatable Bounce House – Best Bouncer Inflatable Ball Pit
- Easy to setup
- The blower is great and remarkably less noisy than commercial ones
- Very durable
- Does not leak
- Might be too small for older kids
This inflatable bounce house features a specialized ball pit area of six feet by almost three feet! The ball pit can only be accessed through the main bounce house or the opposite side, where there is a tent flap entry. But wait, that’s not all! This bouncy house also comes with an inflatable slide for a smooth and easy exit from the front, a basketball hoop, a hook-and-loop target and balls for exciting play, and a blow-up soccer goal attached to one side.
Your child will be giggling and grinning from ear to ear as they slide down the activity by climbing. To ensure your child’s safety, the bounce house is equipped with ground stakes, making it the safest playground possible. Also, your kids can also store their shoes or water bottles in the side pockets while enjoying hours of playtime.
Melissa & Doug Kids Turtle Ball Pit – Best Portable Ball Pit
- Compact and portable
- Machine washable
- Have 60 balls included
- Non-slip underside
- It is small
Melissa & Doug have outdone themselves with this turtle ball pit that is both safe and entertaining for your baby. This multi-textured, crinkling, and jingling toy will undoubtedly bring a smile to your child’s face. The ball pit comes with a whopping 60 colorful balls that are easy to hold, toss, and roll around inside the adorable turtle.
Thanks to the easy-to-use zipper and self-stick tabs, your baby can sit comfortably inside the turtle while playing with the balls. When playtime is over, the turtle doubles as a handy storage space for the balls, making clean-up a breeze.
How To Choose A Ball Pit For Kids?
- Age: Consider the age of the child or children who will be using it. A pit filled with smaller balls is best for younger kids, while a pit with larger balls is better for older kids.
- Number Of Balls: How many balls do you need? When the ball pit is not in use, extra balls can be costly and awkward to keep.
- Ease Of Cleaning: Is it easy to clean the ball pit? Most kids will eventually spill food, beverages, and various body fluids in their ball pits at some point. Make sure the ball pit you select is easy to clean and sterilize if required.
- Type: As was already said, many ball pits are easy to snap open or inflate, while some take a little more installation. It’s also important to note that memory foam pits are softer and more durable than polyester pop-up types, which are lighter and less expensive.
- Purpose: Are you going to use this indoors or outdoors? Do you intend to use it both with and without water? What role does portability play? Or perhaps you’re looking for a playpen with stimulating sensory activities for infants and young children.
- Extra Features: Are you trying to find anything that inflates? Do you like games like velcro darts or a hoop? What about the individually usable tunnel or tent attachments? Do you intend to fit more than one child?
What Age Is A Ball Pit Good For?
Ball pits are made usually for children starting from 6 months until they are aged 6 or 7. To make sure a ball pit is suitable for your child’s requirements, you should look for the weight limitations written on it rather than relying exclusively on age. Ball pits for newborns, however, would often be smaller and shallower than those for toddlers or older kids.
Here are some things to keep in mind when considering a ball pit for your baby:
- Experts recommend that your baby be at least six months old
- Your baby should be able to sit up unassisted with good neck control
- Some ball pits are designed to grow with your children, for example transforming into a trampoline as they get older
Are Ball Pits Safe For Babies?
When used properly, ball pits specifically designed for babies by reputable manufacturers are safe for them. Ball pits provide a fun and stimulating environment for babies to explore and play. However, it is important to take precautions to ensure the ball pit is safe.
For example, make sure the ball pit is made of durable materials that are free of sharp edges or small parts that could pose a choking hazard. Also, be sure to supervise your baby when they are using the ball pit.
Babies should not use large ball pits that were made for bigger children. These ball pits can be dangerous for babies because they can easily fall and hurt themselves.
Are Ball Pits Good For Kids?
Ball pits are really good and beneficial for kids! They are a great way to encourage active play and provide a sensory-rich environment, especially for babies learning how to crawl or walk. Ball pits can help kids develop gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. They are also great for social play, as kids can interact with each other while playing in the pit.
How Many Balls Do I Need For A Ball Pit?
The number of balls you need for a ball pit depends on the size of the ball pit and the size of the balls. As a general rule of thumb, you should aim for about 100 balls per square foot of ball pit space. So, if you have a 4ft x 4ft ball pit, you will need around 1600 balls. Keep in mind that if you have larger balls, you may need fewer of them, and if you have smaller balls, you may need more. Additionally, some children may prefer a more densely packed ball pit, while others may prefer fewer balls for easier movement.
How Often Do Ball Pits Get Cleaned?
It’s important to clean your ball pit regularly to prevent the spread of germs. Large ball pits should be cleaned and sanitized completely every three to six months, and the balls should be cleaned every day. If you have a smaller ball pit at home, you can wash the balls every two or three times you use it, and then fully clean the ball pit every three to six months.
After examining ball pits present in children’s physical therapy facilities, this study concluded that although some bacteria might exist in them, most children can safely use ball pits. However, individuals with underlying health conditions, such as a weakened immune system, should avoid them (3).
How Much Does A Ball Pit Cost?
A ball pit typically costs between $20 for smaller ones for babies and above $200 for older kids, depending on the size and features. Some ball pits come with inflatable walls and a soft bottom, while others are simply a hole filled with balls. Typically, ball pits with more features will cost more. Features that can affect the price include more games, a bigger size that can accommodate numerous kids, or more robust construction.
